Social networks will have to remove leaked intimate content within two hours

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) signed this Wednesday (20) a decree that aims to increase the protection of women in digital environments. The text will be published in the DOU (Official Gazette of the Union) on Thursday (21).

The decree, according to a statement from the federal government, obliges platforms to prevent the spread of crimes, fraud and violence on their systems. It will also be necessary to take measures to reduce harm to victims.

A hypothesis reached by the decree, also according to the Executive, are situations of exposure of non-consensual nudity of women and girls, including when the image is created by artificial intelligence mechanisms.

Another example of situations in which platforms will have more responsibility would be in cases of threats, stalking or coordinated harassment on social networks.

The decree determines that companies have channels to receive reports of intimate content leaked without consent. Content must be removed within two hours of notification. Folha de S.Paulo showed at the end of March that the decree was being drafted.

The President of the Republic signed the decree in a ceremony at Palácio do Planalto, in a ceremony that also had the participation of the presidents of the STF (Federal Supreme Court), Edson Fachin, and of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB).

The ceremony marked the 100th day of Lula’s launch of the Brazil National Pact Against Feminicide – an alliance between the government and the Legislature and Judiciary to promote measures to protect women.

The head of government also sanctioned the bill that creates the National Register of Aggressors. The text determines the creation of a database with information on those convicted of crimes such as feminicide, rape, rape of vulnerable people and sexual harassment.

The PT member sanctioned two other projects related to violence against women. One of them reinforces protection for victims who suffer threats from aggressors after arrest or conviction. The other increases the chances of separation between aggressor and victim.

The female vote was decisive in electing Lula as President of the Republic in 2022. The PT member needs to maintain his good performance in this segment of society to be re-elected this year.